While it may not necessarily live up to expectations, When We Have Sufficiently Tortured Each Other is a dark humoured, somewhat odd yet gripping production, and worth a watch for the performances alone. But if it’s the shock value you’re after, there is nothing here that you wouldn’t see on post-watershed television.

Cate Blanchett and Stephen Dillane will perform in the world premiere of Martin Crimp’s play When We Have Sufficiently Tortured Each Other (Twelve Variations On Samuel Richardson’s Pamela), directed by Katie Mitchell at the National Theatre in January 2019.